This is Miami, Florida. Serving a population of 6.2 million people, a network of Metrorail,
commuter rail, people mover, and bus rapid transit lines runs across this US city, servicing
87 stations across three counties. Consisting of 102 miles of track and 20 miles of dedicated
busway, the system travels across Miami, with trains and buses radiating from downtown to
the suburbs. But how did the system grow from its original stations to the network it is
today? My name’s Zach, and this is the Evolution of the Network.
The beginning of Miami’s rapid transit network began to form in May 1984, with the opening
of the initial section of the Metrorail system. Starting from Dadeland South station, the
line ran north towards downtown, with 10 initial stops to Overtown. In December, a second segment
of the system opened, adding five more stations to Earlington Heights. The following May,
a further northward extension of the line opened, completing the initial route to Okeechobee.
The first phase of Miami’s downtown people mover opened in April 1986, with two lines
running in opposite loops. Nine stations were serviced on the system, including an interchange
with Metrorail at Government Center. Two stations were serviced in one direction only, with
Miami Avenue being served by only inner loop trains, and Fort Dallas Park being served
by outer loop trains. Two stations in downtown were renamed in July
1988, reflecting the opening of the nearby Miami Arena. On MetroRail, Overtown was renamed
to Overtown/Arena, while the Metromover station at State Plaza was updated to Arena / State
Plaza. Commuter rail service in Miami launched in
January 1989, with Tri-Rail trains beginning service. Starting from a stop near the Miami
International Airport, the line travelled north to West Palm Beach, servicing 10 intermediate
stations along the route. In March, an interchange station was opened on the line, allowing passengers
to transfer between Tri-Rail and Metrorail. Three months later in June, an additional
station opened in the middle of the line at Cypress Creek, followed in December by a station
near the northern end of the line at Boynton Beach.
The Metromover network was expanded five years later in May 1994, with two new branches opening
to the north and south. Service on the outer loop was extended south to Financial District,
servicing six new stations, and interchanging with Metrorail at Brickell. To the north,
a new line extended to School Board, following the former outer loop and servicing six new
stations. Two stations on the network were also renamed at this time, with Fort Dallas
Park becoming Third Street, and World Trade Center becoming Knight Center.
On Tri-Rail, two infill stations were opened in March 1996, improving access to the network.
Just north of the Tri-Rail/Metrorail transfer, a station opened at Opa-locka, while further
north on the line, trains also began stopping at Sheridan Street. In October, Bicentennial
Park station on the Omni loop was closed, having seen very low ridership since opening
two years earlier. At the same time, Tri-rail was extended one station north, with trains
now ending at Mangonia Park. Bus rapid transit in Miami began in February
1997, with the opening of the initial section of the South Dade transitway. Starting from
the end of the Metrorail line at Dadeland South, the dedicated roadway travelled to
Southwest 112th Avenue, servicing 16 stops along the route.
On Tri-Rail, the route was extended closer to the Miami Airport in April 1998, improving
access to the facility. The previous station remained in service however, being renamed
to Hialeah Market. In October 1999, the Tri-Rail station at Palm Beach Airport was closed and
demolished, in order to make way for an expanded freeway interchange. Elsewhere on Tri-Rail,
the stop at Fort Lauderdale Airport was relocated in August 2000, being renamed to Fort Lauderdale
Airport at Dania Beach. The Metrorail line was extended further west
in November 2003, with a one stop extension taking the line to Palmetto.
At the opposite end of the network, the South Dade Transitway was extended further south
in April 2005, with five new stations taking the roadway to Southwest 264th Street.
Two years later in December 2007, the busway was extended further south to Southwest 344th St,
completing the roadway that we know today. At the same time, the Overtown/Arena metrorail
station was renamed, now being referred to as Historic Overtown/Lyric Theater. The Omni
loop Metromover station at Omni was renamed in May 2009, now being called Adrienne Arsht
Center, after the nearby performing arts venue. On Tri-Rail, service to Miami Airport was revised
in September 2011, with construction beginning on an enhanced station. To facilitate this,
trains were cut back to Hialeah Market, with the stop temporarily being renamed to reflect
this change. A second branch of the Metrorail network launched
in July 2012, providing service to the Miami International Airport. Service on the Orange line
followed the existing route to Dadeland South, with the existing route being renamed to the
Green line. At the same time, the Metromover station at Arena/State Plaza was renamed to
Wilkie D Ferguson Junior. A new Omni loop Metromover station opened
in December 2013, with trains beginning to stop at Museum Park. The following December,
the South Dade Transitway station at 117th Street was closed, being replaced by a nearby stop
at 120th Street. Finally in April 2015, Tri-Rail service was
extended back to the Miami Airport, servicing a new joint facility with the Orange line.
This brings us to the Miami rapid transit map that we know today.
In the years to come, more expansions are planned for the Miami transit network, that
will enhance service across the region. In early 2022, a second branch of Tri-Rail will
open, diverting off south of the Tri-Rail/Metrorail transfer, and extending into downtown
Miami. The new station will provide an interchange to Metrorail and Metromover services, as well
as transfers to Brightline trains. In late 2023, service on the South Dade Transitway
will be enhanced, with a new dedicated service beginning along the route. Fifteen stations
on the route will be upgraded with center island platforms, with existing local buses
continuing to service the remaining stops. That was the evolution of Miami’s rail and
busway network, giving us the six rail lines and one busway that we know today. If you
haven’t already, be sure to watch our Evolution of the Network videos on other American cities,
which you can access by clicking the button in the top right corner. Don’t forget to
leave a like if you enjoyed this video, and comment down below to join in the discussion.
My name’s Zach, and I’ll be Vanishing Underground, until the next one.